Merchiston and Edinburgh Academy Renew Rugby’s Oldest School Rivalry

This Saturday, the two sides will renew one of the oldest rivalries in the sport when they meet in the Boys’ U18 Open Competition, with kick-off at 10.30am at Merchiston Castle School. This fixture will feature as the Scottish Rugby Match of the Week and will be broadcast live on the Scottish Rugby YouTube Channel. It is a top-of-the-table clash, with both sides currently unbeaten in Pool A.

The fixture dates back to 1858, when the schools first met at Raeburn Place. That inaugural encounter ended in a draw and remarkably, the fixture has been played every year since – making it the world’s longest continuous annual rugby school match.

More than 160 years on, the history and tradition surrounding the game remain as strong as ever.

Former Merchiston Director of Rugby, Roddy Deans, knows the occasion better than most, having  spent 13 years at the school before recently taking up a new role with Scottish Rugby as Pathway and Coach Development Manager for the Borders and East Lothian.

For Deans, his time at Merchiston was about much more than results and trophies.

“I fell in love with the place in terms of just what it does for people, staff and primarily the sport,” he reflected. “They just absolutely lived and breathed the game.”

That enthusiasm extended throughout the school, with players of all ages aspiring to experience the 1st XV environment. Deans remembers Ben Afshar, who moved from Edinburgh Academy to Merchiston in primary five and went on to achieve that ambition, with Afshar now playing for Glasgow Warriors.

For Deans, that pathway is about creating an environment where young players can develop a lasting relationship with the game, supported by the role models around them.

“Lots of boys go on to play at a higher level,” Deans explained. “So, the role models are there for the boys and the boys come back all the time.”

It is a theme Deans has carried into his new role with Scottish Rugby, where developing the pathway from grassroots and youth rugby into the senior game is a fundamental part of the organisation’s work.

“I think first and foremost, it’s got to be a really supportive and happy place where the boys and girls can express themselves,” he said. “It’s about having an environment where the kids feel really safe. You’ve got to make the environment and training enjoyable so that they will come back.”

That journey can start with something as simple as attending a first mini rugby festival. Deans pointed to a recent event in Melrose where around 1,000 youngsters gathered – the kind of experience that can provide the first step on a storied rugby journey.

While success on the pitch brought plenty of memorable moments during his 13 years at Merchiston, including Scottish Cup victories and tours to New Zealand and South Africa, Deans believes the relationships built during his time at the school will stay with him longest.

“It wasn’t about winning,” he said. “It was more about the relationships I ended up having with the staff, parents and the boys.”

There can be few better examples of the power of the school game than the long-standing rivalry between Merchiston and Edinburgh Academy.

The two have now met 248 times, with Merchiston recording 151 victories, Edinburgh Academy 68 and 29 encounters ending in draws.

The teams will once again compete for the Sesquicentennial Trophy, presented by Edinburgh Academical Football Club in 2008 to mark the 150th anniversary of the fixture. Edinburgh Academy currently hold the trophy, having also won the most recent meeting in February 2026, 12-7.

Deans expects another fiercely contested encounter this weekend.

“Both teams are very strong this year,” he said. “It could always go either way purely because I think the occasion sometimes makes it that way.”

And it is that occasion which makes this fixture so distinctive. Former pupils return, school communities gather in numbers and generations of players become part of the story.

“The boys take it very seriously,” Deans said. “There’s always a big crowd in attendance from both schools. A lot of former pupils come back from both sides.”

The fixture has survived two World Wars and countless changes in the game, while its roll of honour includes players who went on to represent Scotland. Edinburgh Academy alumni include former Scotland captain and current All Blacks assistant coach Mike Blair, who followed in the footsteps of Bill Maclagan and Roger Arneil, while Merchiston has produced the likes of John Jeffrey and Duncan Hodge, as well as William Cross, whose try helped secure Scotland’s victory over England in the first international match.

This Saturday, Deans will swap the touchline for the commentary box as part of this week’s Scottish Rugby Match of the Week coverage.

The Hawick native is well aware that he has a hard act to follow.

“I’m not sure I’m going to do Bill McLaren any justice on the microphone,” Deans joked, “but I’ll give it a shot!”

There is plenty of action elsewhere in Pool A, with Boroughmuir Rugby taking on Dollar Academy, while GHA RFC go head-to-head with George Watson’s College.

There are also some exciting encounters in Pool B, where Glenalmond College and Erskine Stewart Melville, who currently sit at the top of the pool, face each other in what promises to be a competitive clash. Stirling County RFC take on Marr Rugby, while Ayr RFC face Strathallan in a mid-table battle.

Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership

After a weekend of close encounters, with four of the five matches decided by a single score, it’s all to play for as the Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership enters Round Five.

Currie Chieftains will be looking to return to winning ways when they welcome Edinburgh Accies to Malleny Park. Edinburgh Accies will arrive full of confidence after securing their first win of the season last weekend against Glasgow Hawks.

Two of the Borders sides are on the road this weekend, with Kelso RFC travelling west to Braidholm to face GHA and Hawick RFC heading to Balgray to take on Glasgow Hawks.

At The Greenyards, Melrose Rugby will look to build on last weekend’s victory over Heriot’s Rugby when they host Watsonian FC.

Heriot’s Rugby, meanwhile, will welcome Ayr RFC to Goldenacre. Ayr will be looking to maintain their perfect start to the campaign, having won all four of their matches so far, while Heriot’s will be aiming to halt that winning run on home soil.

Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership

This weekend marks the first break weekend in the Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership, with one fixture taking place as Cartha Queen’s Park host Garioch RFC.

The fixture has been brought forward from next weekend following a request from both clubs.

Garioch will be looking to build on the strong first-half performance they produced against Stirling County RFC last weekend, while both sides will be searching for their first win of the season.